The kanji 像 primarily signifies "image," "statue," "figure," or "likeness." It refers to a representation of something, whether it be a physical object, a person, or an idea, often created for artistic, religious, or commemorative purposes. The core meaning involves the concept of resemblance or depiction.

・On-yomi (音読み): ゾウ (zou) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): None, or not commonly used as a stand-alone word with a native Japanese reading.

⚫︎ 肖像画 (shouzoug a) Translation: Portrait ⚫︎ 仏像 (butsuzou) Translation: Buddhist statue ⚫︎ 偶像 (guuzou) Translation: Idol; image; icon

The kanji 像 is a phono-semantic compound. The left side, 亻 (ninben), is the radical meaning "person" or "human." The right side, 象 (zou), originally depicted an elephant and was later borrowed to represent its sound. Therefore, 像 combines the "person" radical with the sound and the original meaning of "象." It implies a representation of a person, taking the form or likeness of someone. The character's formation thus combines a semantic element (person) with a phonetic element (sound of "zou," the elephant).